Alpena weekly argus. [volume] (Alpena, Mich.) 1871-1893, 1887-11-23

"hinPoIinB' NJ last supper Jihl
came and mother went out to prepar
it. l went into the kitchen with her
Where do you live. Jimmyf' sh
asked.
In New York. l replied.
What are you working at JIMMY
I'm working in dry goods store
Then l suppose you don't live very
high, for l hear tell O. them city clerks
what don't get enough money to keeE
body and soul together. So I'll JUS
tell you, Jimmy, we've nothin' bu
roast spareribs for supper. We ain,
got any money now. Jimmy. We'r,
poorer nor Jobs turkey
81 told her that would be delighted
with the spareribs, and to tell the
truth, John, l haven't eaten meal in
New York that tasted as well as the
crisp roasted spareribs did. I spent
the evening playing checkers with ia.
ther, while mother sat by telling me
all about their misfortunes, from old
white Mooley getting drowned in the
pond, to fathers signing a note for q
friend and having to mortgage the
place to pay it. The mortgage was
due inside of week and not cent to
meet it with-just $500. She suppos.
ed they would be turned out of house
and home, but in my mind supposed
they wouldn't. At last 9 o'clock came
and father said: Jim, 60 out to the
barn and see if Kit is all right. Bring
in an armful of old shingles that are
just inside the door, and fill up the
water pail. Then we 60 off to bed and
get up early and 60 a-fishing.'
81 didn't say word, but went out
to the barn, bedded down the horse,
broke up an armful of shingles, pump
ed pail of water. filled the woodbox
and then we all went to bed.
Father called me at 4:30 in the
morning and while he was getting a
cup of coffee l skipped over to the de-
pot across lots and got my best bass
rod. Father took nothing but troll
ing line and spoon hook. He rowed
the boat with his trolling line in his
mouth, while I stood up in the stern
with silver sinner rigged on. Now
John, / never saw man catch fish
like him. To make a long story short
he caught four bass and five pickerel
and | never got bite.
AT noon we went ashore and father
went home, while l went to the post
office. l got a letter from Chicago
with check for 81 900 in it. With
some trouble got it cashed, getting
paid in $5 and SO bills, making quite
. roll. l then got roast joint Of
beef and lot of delicacies aud had
hem sent home. After that | went
visiting among my old schoolmates
or two hours and then went home.
The joint was in the oven. Mother
,ad put on her only silk dress, and
ather had donned his Sunday-go to
meeting clothes, none too good either.
This is where I played joke on the
I'D folks. Mother was in the kitchen
watching the roast. Father was out 10
he barn, and / had a clear coast. /
Jumped the sugar out of the old blue
BOWL, put the thousand dollars in it
Ind placed the cover on again. At
ast supper was ready. Father asked
! blessing over it, and he actually
rembled when he stuck his knife in
he roast.
"'We haven't had piece of meat
ike this in FIVE years, Jim,' he said
md mother put in with, And we have
lot had any coffee for a year, only
vhen we went visiting
"Then she poured the coffee and lifted
he cover of the sugar bowl, asking as
he did so: How many spoons, JIM
ny?' Then she struck something
hat wasn't sugar. She picked up the
'owl and peered into it. Aha, Mas
er Jimmy, playing your old tricks on
our nanny, eh? Well, boys will be
oys.' Then she gasped for breath.
he saw it was money. She looked at
ne, then at father, and then with
hand drew the great roll of
ills out.
"Hal ha ha! l can see father now
s he stood there on tiptoe, with his
pife in one hand, fork in the other,
nd his eyes fairly bulging out of his
cad. But it was too much for moth.
r. She raised her eyes to heaven and
aid slowly: Put your trust in the
ord, for He will provide
Then she tainted away. Well, John
here's not much more to tell. We
brew water in her face and brought
er to, and then we demolished that
inner, mother all the time saying,
fy boy Jimmy MY boy JIMMY
"Istayed home month. fixed up
he place, paid off all debts, had a good
me, and came back again to New
'ork. am going to send $50 home